Browns NFL Draft Preview: Finale - Part 1

After breaking down the offense and defense individually over the last two weeks, we can now combine the needs of this team together on both sides of the ball to see where the team’s greatest needs lie. In a perfect world, the Browns would move down this list to select their players as they moved through the rounds of the draft based on these needs. Unfortunately, that’s not how the draft really works so it will be interesting to see what this team picks along the way to fill these levels of need. GM Phil Savage is also a man who has been known to go for the best player available in the early rounds, which could throw this thing way off.

Before we go any further, it’s important to note that I will use this list to breakdown the aftermath of the draft for the Browns and see where they stand after making their 9 selections. I will also provide a running draft diary on Saturday and an abbreviated version on Sunday to cover a lot of the picks in the draft with all the teams and I’ll list a few of the best teams and some of the worst teams when it comes to how they addressed their team afterwards.

The Browns’ needs:

1a. DE/OLB pass rusher – Summary: No pass rush to speak of in 2005. The Browns need to get to the QB.
1b. MLB – Summary: One ILB position is a major weakness. Someone has to step in to fill the role.
2. NT – Summary: Ted Washington is a big short term solution. They need a young one to step up behind him.
3. RB – Summary: Lee Suggs is good, but he’s also very fragile. The Browns need a dependable guy to spell Ruben Droughns.
4. OT – Summary: The most important position on the OL is still weak when it comes to depth for the Browns.
5. WR – Summary: Braylon Edwards is rehabbing a late season knee injury from 05.
6. S – Summary: The two young bucks (Sean Jones and Brodney Pool) need some competition.
7. C – Summary: Jeff Faine may be a draft day trade, so LeCharles Bentley needs a backup.
8. CB – Summary: 3 good starters will battle it out, but after that it’s poopy at this position.
9. FB – Summary: If Terrelle Smith goes down, there’s no proven FB to help the team.
10. G – Summary: After Bob Hallen, the backups at guard are very weak.
11. QB – Summary: The Browns have committed to Charlie Frye. If anything, they need a good #3 guy.
12. TE – Summary: Kellen Winslow is back and he has good help from Steve Heiden.

The Browns Picks:

Round 1 (12 overall)
Round 2 (43 overall)
Round 3 (78 Overall)
Round 4 (110 Overall)
Round 4 (112 Overall) - From Atlanta for Chris Crocker
Round 5 (145 Overall)
Round 5 (152 Overall) - From New England for Andre Davis
Round 6 (180 Overall)
Round 7 (222 Overall)

As we all know, defense seems to be a major need for this team. I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Browns take two defensive players in the first two rounds and go from there after that. Tomorrow, we’ll cover some of the players the Browns could pick in the first couple of rounds to fill their top needs on defense. We’ll finish this up on Friday to cover some of the lower round options for the Browns to fill some of their other needs. Stay tuned…